Panther bantams feeling orphaned by hockey club

No local rep team, access denied to go elsewhere

by Alicia McCutcheon

MANITOULIN-After a month of no returned phone calls or emails from members of their organization's executive, the parents and players of Manitoulin Panther bantam hockey are fed up.

Major bantam coach and parent Mike Corrigan of Mindemoya said things began as usual in the advent of the Panther season, but quickly went sour.

Between August 22 and 29, the Panthers held three different tryouts for minor and major bantam-age players (players born in 1993 and 1994) at the Northeast Town Rec Centre in Little Current. On those three days, Mr. Corrigan explained, only three major bantam players (born in 1993) showed up. Six minor players had shown up for the tryout and one peewee-age player.

Last season, the Panthers did have a major bantam team, thanks to the support of seven Espanola players who this year decided to play elsewhere. Once the coaches heard the Espanola players were not coming back and that the Panther organization had no claim on them, Mr. Corrigan explained that the coaches knew the chances for a team were slim-to-none.

"It was very remote for a minor team and knew we would have no chance for a major team," Mr. Corrigan said of the coaching staff's discussion following the team's tryout attempts. "We then asked for a meeting with the (Panther) executive, to explain this and received no response."

After days of failed communications between the coaching staff and the executive, the major players were called and told that there would be no team this year.

"Our interpretation was that if there was no team, then we should go to Blind River (the closest team in district two of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League) and seek out (a spot for local players on) their team," Mr. Corrigan explained.

The Blind River bantam team was already filled and a release was given to the Panther players by the Blind River organization to try out wherever they wished within the NDMHL.

During the third of the Walden tryouts, Mr. Corrigan was approached by the Walden coach and asked to identify all of the Panther players on the ice, who were then asked to leave. The Walden coach said the team was there "illegally" as an official release had not been granted to the players by the Panther organization.

"Some of the players would have been offered a spot then and there, but there was no official Panther release," Mr. Corrigan said.

Upon returning home, the coaches decided to hold another skate for the bantam team, which garnered a better turnout then before: four majors, six minors and one peewee. In the rules of hockey, players of a younger group can 'play up' if the skill level is there, but a player can never 'play down' from his or her level.

"Despite the good turnout, we had only 10 bantam-aged players," the coach said.

The coaches were able to tell the executive that there were not enough players for a team and the phones began to ring from parents, asking for releases for their children. Many of the phone calls ended in hang-ups and verbal reports from the Panther executive of a full roster with 16 names.

Repeatedly, Mr. Corrigan said, the coaches asked to see the names on the roster, and each time the answer was 'no.'

"It was now September 15 and as far as we were concerned, we were just spinning our wheels, so we had another skate," he said. Still, there were not enough players to ice a team.

On that same date, Mr. Corrigan also forwarded the results of a voluntary survey he conducted among bantam-age players' parents/guardians. To the question "if the Manitoulin Panther executive submits to the NDHML to enter a major bantam team, would you allow your child to sign...and play on this team?" six out of 10 respondents replied 'no.'

All 10 respondents said they would rather their child play on another rep team, with one choosing both house league and another rep team.

On September 18, member organizations had to attend the NDMHL meeting to announce their teams. Mr. Corrigan said he was surprised when the Panther executive announced it was entering a minor bantam team among the other teams for the season. According to NOHA rules, teams must have a minimum of 11 skaters to declare a team. All 10 families of bantam-age players had said they would like a release for their child from the Panther organization.

"We have tried for three weeks (and prior to tryouts) to create an interest in other kids to come out-it is not happening and we need the issue resolved now, not when all other options for playing double-A (AA) hockey are gone," one parent wrote. "This decision needs to be made in the best interest of the kids above anything else."

"There are not enough players for a team," another parent wrote. "If there were enough they would not be able to win a game. This calibre of hockey costs thousands a year and should not be wasted...Consider what you're doing to a bunch of kids who just want to play hockey," the response continued. "It's the kids who are being hurt here, noone else. You are the adults; start acting like it."

After the NDMHL meeting, parents of major bantam players, now assured there would be no major team, approached the Panther executive, asking them for releases for their sons.

"They flatly refused to provide releases," said Mr. Corrigan, who was among the parents who approached the executive.

To add to the drama, the next day parents learned that the decision to ice a minor bantam team had been switched. The Panthers had now declared a major bantam team, despite a lack of players.

"The only reason that would be was to prevent the majors from getting a release-to hold them back," Mr. Corrigan speculated. "That night (September 19) was the last day they could have gone to try out (with another NDMHL team), and therefore their year is ruined."

According to Mr. Corrigan, he and other parents and coaches pleaded with both the NDMHL and NOHA for releases for their sons, but both organizations left it up to the Panther organization to deal with it.

"The Nickel District's position is that if they say there's a team, there must be a team," he explained. "If the NOHA doesn't think there's been a violation of a rule, they don't think there's a problem," Mr. Corrigan stated plainly.

"They (the associations) are not protecting the right of the children-they fell down on the job," Mr. Corrigan said. "Nobody stepped in to help those kids and it's a travesty, it's shameful."

For the major bantam players on Manitoulin, their only option is to play house league hockey, or no hockey at all, and most have not played at the house league level in a number of years.

The parents say their sons are worried about what this might do to any hockey aspirations they may have had. Mr. Corrigan explained that the bantam years of hockey are crucial ones and are when young players first begin to get noticed.

Barry Parsons, head coach for the Manitoulin Islanders, agrees. "The bantam years are very important because that's when scouts begin to watch," he said.

He noted that with junior hockey, like the Manitoulin Islanders, there are sometimes negative connotations that go along with players' experience at the house league level.

"If we have a tryout and we ask 'where did he come from?' we might say 'maybe we should keep him off of our list-he's a house league player'," Mr. Parsons explained. "We give those boys (Panther calibre) a better look."

"If you have those few years of AA or AAA hockey, it's beneficial," he continued. The coaching is different and better for them in the long run. The connotation does stick with us. We try to get kids who are AAA and are good at school too."

Mr. Parsons calls the Manitoulin Panthers, and other like organizations, "feeder systems" for teams such as the Manitoulin Islanders.

"You've got to have these feeder systems," he said, noting that the Islanders major system is Sudbury. "If they have big aspirations, it's better for them to play this calibre of hockey in order to be seen and recognized," the coach added.

Former Manitoulin Panther president Rendell McDonald, of Little Current, has recently resigned from his executive position, according to wife Linda, who spoke on his behalf. Ms. McDonald said her husband was declining to comment on the issues as "he is no longer involved in minor hockey."

Vice-president Gail Payette of M'Chigeeng declined to comment.

Pilot injured in Gore Bay plane crash

Two passengers walk away

by Tom Sasvari

GORE BAY-Transport Canada is continuing an investigation into a small airplane crash which occurred at the Gore Bay Manitoulin Airport last Friday. A pilot and two passengers, all from Wiarton, were in the plane, and while the two passengers received minor injuries, the pilot had to be extracted from the plane, suffering from leg and back injuries.

"We didn't see the plane go down," said airport manager Robby Colwell. "We lost radio contact with the pilot of the plane after their failed attempt to land on the runway. After the accident, one of the passengers of the plane, Jim Miller, the pilot's father, came over to notify us of the crash."

"It was a case of the pilot trying to land the plane, and getting caught in the cross winds," said Dan Esposto, of the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The accident was reported at 12:42 pm when the light aircraft, a Stinson 108-3 plane, was inbound to Gore Bay Airport. The pilot, 46-year-old Jerry Miller, radioed into the airport and was cleared for landing, but was concerned about the wind at the time. He decided to abort the landing and attempt to try again on the next pass over. However, a cross wind caught the plane and forced it to the ground.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene, including the Gore Bay and Burpee-Mills Township Fire Departments, and the Gore Bay Ambulance Service, along with the OPP. The pilot had to be extracted from the plane, suffering from leg and back injuries, and was transported to a hospital in London.

The two passengers, Jim Miller, 75, and Darrell Jarvis, who were able to get out of and walk away from the aircraft, received minor injuries. They were taken to the Mindemoya Hospital for treatment, and remained there overnight.

"It could have been much, much worse," stated Mr. Colwell. "Jerry is a good pilot and is careful, it was just not his day to fly. The wind was absolutely in the worst direction it could be on this day for them to try and land the plane."

Deer reflectors prove effective

by Alicia McCutcheon

ICE LAKE-Three weeks into a Manitoulin pilot project, the deer reflectors that now line the corridor between Kagawong and Ice Lake seem to producing some early results-that is, a lack of car-deer collisions on that notoriously deer-ridden stretch of Highway 540.

According to Glen McDougall, chief roads superintendent for Belanger Construction, his company has yet to receive a call to pick up of deer carcasses from the roadway since the reflectors have been installed.

Considering that is the Island's main deeryard, he guesses that must be pretty good.

Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police Staff Sergeant Bruce McCullagh also said neither he, nor any of his officers, have received a phone call due to a deer collision in the past three weeks.

"I've been asking the officers on patrol what they've been seeing, and they are seeing deer through the day, as usual, but not necessarily in that corridor, and very few at night," said Sergeant McCullagh. "We can only keep our fingers crossed."

Keith Jewell of Jewell's Collision Centre is still on the fence about the reflectors.

Mr. Jewell sees first hand the damage deer can cause, as a large portion of his yearly work is dedicated to fixing cars that have had a surprise meeting with deer-sometimes on that very stretch of roadway. In 2004, 36 percent of his sales were due to deer damage and he expects this year to be similar.

"It's bad for them (the people hitting the deer), but good for me," he said.

In fact, there was a car in his shop last week that was damaged from hitting a deer in that very spot, reflectors and all.

The bodyman lives in Mindemoya and makes the commute to Gore Bay each workday, travelling that very stretch of Highway 540 at some of the peak times for roaming deer and said he had noticed deer in the area still, especially at dusk.

He said he'd like to wait and see if the reflectors prove themselves, as this isn't typically a time when deer are on the roads.

"It's hard to say," Mr. Jewell said of the deer reflectors' effectiveness. "But I think they would just confuse the deer more."

Thankfully, he said, none of his customers have ever been hurt after a collision and he always reminds people to never avoid hitting a deer, should one step in their path, as the consequences might be more serious if they do.

The OPP will be comparing collision statistics at the end of each month to the previous year so, said Sergeant McCullagh, "time will tell."

Native author urges less government dependency

Calvin Helin promotes entrepreneurial vision

by Lindsay Kelly

M'CHIGEENG-With a message of inspiration, hope and self-empowerment, internationally renowned author Calvin Helin spoke to a packed M'Chigeeng Arena on Friday afternoon, earning him a host of new fans and opening up a new dialogue about how First Nations can become self-sufficient and stop relying on government support.

It's a concept the British Columbia lawyer explores in his new book, 'Dances With Dependency,' published in the spring to glowing accolades and support from both Native and non-Native communities.

Hailing from the Tsimshian Nation, Mr. Helin has helped create a number of business initiatives, including the National Board of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. He has received a Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, given by the Governor General of Canada to persons who have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community, and to Canada.

In addition, Mr. Helin has been recognized as one of the top 40 Under 40 by the Business in Vancouver newspaper, one of the top 15 leaders under the age of 40 who will lead British Columbia into the next century by Equity magazine, and is listed in the "Who's Who of Professionals." He has recently led high profile Aboriginal trade missions to New Zealand and China.

He was invited to speak in M'Chigeeng by the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Tribal Council, and it was Mr. Helin's only speaking engagement in Northern Ontario.

Draped in his clan blanket-featuring a striking red and black killer whale that represents his mother's protector-the soft-spoken speaker began his presentation with an important thought: every Aboriginal person can make a difference in changing the lives of First Nations people for the better.

"I asked myself the same question I'll ask you: if you think you can make a difference in your lifetime to our people, if you think your opinion counts," he said. "I'm here to tell you your opinion counts for everything."

But before people can understand how that is possible, it is integral that they first understand where they came from and how Canadian Aboriginals became so entangled in a poor social pathology, Mr. Helin suggested.

For example, according to archaeological evidence, Aboriginals have been living in northern BC for 13,000 years, so why, he asked, did the population thrive so well for 9,700 years? The ancestors of today's population didn't wait for a welfare cheque for the government, nor did they wait for the government to tell them what to do, Mr. Helin argued.

"It's very important to realize where our ancestors came from and that a long, long, long part of our heritage is self-reliance," he said.

He offered up a recent United Nations study which found that, overall, Canada ranks seventh on a list of countries with the best conditions for human development, but that, when this is broken down to focus on Aboriginal populations, Canada comes in 48th place, "down with third-world countries." This, Mr. Helin said, is unacceptable.

"The welfare trap is harming, most harshly, our children and our women," he lamented. "The status quo is unacceptable. We're creating too much damage to our communities. We're creating too much damage to our children. If we continue doing this, we might as well walk the plank and literally throw our women and children to the sharks-that's what we're doing. We have to do something different."

Social conditions plaguing First Nation populations are only growing, he continued. Child welfare cases are increasing, cases of childhood diabetes are on the rise, and more Aboriginals-women especially-are ending up in jails, he argued.

Mr. Helin was also critical of First Nations governance systems. While he said he respects what local First Nations have done in their communities with governance systems, he believes there is a better way. "The government has saddled us with an 1800s style of government that most Aboriginal people feel disempowers them," he suggested.

Using the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as an example, Mr. Helin said he does not feel that the AFN truly represents him, because representatives are voted for by chiefs, not by individuals. It's this kind of system that leaves First Nations people, especially youth, feeling like they don't have any power to make a change, he added.

People are resistant to change, which makes changing the status quo difficult, Mr. Helin added. He had trouble publishing his book-and in fact spent $100,000 of his own resources to self-publish-because publishers believed people wouldn't listen, that he would be "'beat up' because I was telling the truth."

But the only way to facilitate change is to begin talking respectfully, but openly, amongst Aboriginals, with other First Nations and with non-Native populations as well, "because we're going to solve this," he said. "You're going to solve this."

The reasons to solve the situation are multi-purpose and wide-ranging, but first and foremost, it needs to be solved for the future generations, Mr. Helin said. Aboriginal youth under the age of 14 make up the fastest growing population in Canada. Currently, 33 percent of the Aboriginal population is under 14, while the number of non-Aboriginals under 14 sits at 19 percent, he said.

He calls this the "demographic tsunami," because unemployed Aboriginals, combined with a retiring workforce, will create a huge deficit in terms of the lack of revenue being contributed to social programs.

In addition, the Aboriginal population continues to grow, with $9 billion being given out in transfer payments and another $9 billion to funding service programs last year. With the Metis population continuing to earn the same status as Indians and Inuit, those numbers may only increase, Mr. Helin argued.

"This isn't an Aboriginal problem," he said. "It's a Canadian problem."

But rather than looking at this as a crisis, he suggests it is an opportunity to lift up the First Nation population in Canada out of this slump and change things around. "If Canada wants to remain prosperous and competitive as a nation, Canada needs young Aboriginals in the workforce," Mr. Helin said.

The skills needed to return First Nations populations to prosperity are all evident in their history, he continued. The early First Nations people were skilled in economics, relying on natural resources and trade with other First Nations, working together to sustain the tribe.

They also had solid leadership, and in looking back at the speeches of great chiefs like Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Red Crow and Joseph, Mr. Helin said they all had one thing in common: they were "straight people" who provided good and clear leadership.

After European contact, things became more complex as Europeans interfered in the ways of First Nations people, disease killed off large populations of Aboriginals, and government interference caused irreparable damage to First Nations people, Mr. Helin said. He cited an example by an author who claimed that the RCMP killed off as many as 20,000 dogs used by the Inuit so that the Inuit would become reliant on welfare and the treaty system.

Unfortunately, this pattern has socialized many Aboriginals into the "interdependency mindset," which is a huge barrier to moving beyond picking up a welfare cheque every month, Mr. Helin said. And it's created lateral violence as well, in its effect on the younger generation which also "expects somebody else to look after them."

"The moment you start thinking like that, you give someone else control over your life," he said. This results in a lot of unhappy people, which he believes accounts for the high suicide rates amongst youth.

One solution is to support and encourage young entrepreneurs who want to do well in  business and become self-reliant.

First Nations also need strong leadership that doesn't answer to the Indian Act, which he calls a "totally absurd situation."

"I've heard leaders talk about self-government, but someone else is paying for it," Mr. Helin said. "Is it really self-government if someone else is paying for it? It's like living in your mother's basement and asking for allowance every week."

Mr. Helin suggested that, unfortunately, a lack of education amongst leadership in some First Nations leads to corruption, and First Nations need to be more accountable to their members. One First Nation in BC became ISO certified-a set of international business standards-and posts its financial records online so that they are responsible, accessible and transparent to all band members, he offered.

But the first thing communities need to do to move on is admit where they're at, "because if you pretend you're somewhere else, you might as well not even start," Mr. Helin suggested.

"In emphasizing what makes us different, we forget that, not long ago, we got out of the primordial soup-we're not that different," he said. "We have to take ownership of the problems. If we're always blaming somebody else, we'll never take responsibility for ourselves. We have to be responsible for our situation."

"We have to be healthy, work together and trust one another, just like our tribes did from antiquity," he added.

Rather than rely on financial payouts, Mr. Helin believes that communities need to look at long-term sustainability that comes with a strategic plan. Communities also must be able to vote for their leaders, and be able to trust in them to do what's best for the community.

He believes leaders need to have an informed vision about where the community wants to go in the future, and that people should consider the significance of education, which Mr. Helin describes as "one of the most important investments."

"If you don't have a  strategy or objective of where you're going, you become the objective of someone who does," Mr. Helin reasoned. "And unfortunately, our vision has been provided by the Department of Indian Affairs."

Change can happen quickly and people can take control of their futures, he added. This can happen at a national level, but the easiest way to start making changes is at the local level by electing good leadership, becoming educated, working together and trusting each other.

"What tradition and what culture is there in picking up a welfare cheque?" Mr. Helin asked. "We want to feel good about ourselves and go on to do something useful-that's all it boils down to."

A portion of proceeds from sales of Mr. Helin's book will go into scholarships to help impoverished children in Vancouver, as well as karate programs for children. For more information on Mr. Helin's book, visit www.orcabooks.ca.

EDITORIAL

Automatic one-year release of Panthers players warranted

It is clear that more than a few skilled players of various divisions of the Manitoulin Panthers organization have been "orphaned" as far as being able to play elsewhere in the Nickel District Minor Hockey League (NDMHL) this season.

This is because, in the case of several major bantam-age players, there were not enough players interested in playing at the Panther level of skills and competition to compose a viable team.

The Panthers organization made the decision not to release them to play for other teams at the same skill level elsewhere in the NDMHL, and this in turn means that they'll be sitting out at least a year of what many parents feel is a period crucial to their player development as elite athletes in their sport.

While the Panthers organization has not been forthcoming as to the reasons why the player releases were not granted, a fair assumption must be made that this decision was taken in order to protect the Panther "brand" for future years.

That is to say, should the players who requested releases have been granted what they asked for and then gone on to play for another, potentially rival, team in the NDMHL, they may have been deemed to have been lost permanently to future Panthers teams at the same level or the next age group (which, in the case of the major bantams, would have been the midget level).

If, say, five or so players had been released this year, the Panthers organization has likely reasoned, and when next year's tryouts come along a further six hopefuls moved up to the major bantam level, there still wouldn't be enough skaters to ice a team with this year's crop playing elsewhere in the league.

Since they were held back, they'll still be theoretically available to play next year and so a team could be assembled with them and a group of players a year younger in a relatively small market like Manitoulin, that is no doubt the reasoning.

Looking back, however, to the founding of the Panthers organization over 20 years ago, it was clear then that this new elite group of teams was formed on behalf of Manitoulin hockey players who had the skills, drive and enthusiasm required to play in a league more competitive than the Manitoulin Minor Hockey Association.

There was considerable controversy at the birth of the Panthers about setting up an elite organization that, some small communities felt, might have the effect of undermining both the numbers of players and the morale of their communities' teams in Manitoulin "house league" hockey.

In truth, it has been the case that having two divisions of minor hockey on Manitoulin has been hard on both groups, certainly in terms of numbers, as this present controversy underscores. In that respect, the skeptics over 20 years ago were correct in their observations.

But allowing hockey players who have natural talent to progress and play with and against other players similarly endowed is very important and it is clear that the original mandate of the Panthers-that it was to be an organization premised on the skills development of elite Island players-appears to have been somewhat eroded in favour of protecting the Panther brand for future years.

We suggest that it is possible to do both and, for players from other small Northern communities, Hockey Canada and the Northern Ontario Hockey Association should allow some latitude so everyone can win, especially the young players.

If it is clear at tryouts (which begin in August and early September) that there are not going to be enough talented young athletes available that year to ice a team in a particular Panthers division, then the players should be released so that they can attend tryouts elsewhere in the Nickel District league, or beyond (provided that the players in question have been members of a Panthers-level team the previous hockey season).

But there could be a caveat added that would protect next year's team at the same level: the players could be released on a year-by-year basis.

If, a year from now, there is another half-dozen players coming up with the skills to make up a major bantam team, then this year's group (those whose age still made them eligible to play at the major bantam level) would return to Manitoulin to play as part of an elite Manitoulin Panthers team.

We know that's how it's supposed to work, but in the case of the Panthers teams, it should work this way automatically, without exception and without any political overtones.

Manitoulin's size and population are simply too small, and common sense dictates that the players' welfare should come first, all of the time.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Comments by artist deemed slanderous to deputy grand chief

Expositor should not "help cast aspersions"

To the Expositor:

My years of service and dedication to my home community of M'Chigeeng First Nation are a great source of pride for me and my family.

Like citizens of most First Nations, we have faced challenges together, shared successes, and debated our differences of opinion. But we have always understood that our greatest source of collective strength lies in our reliance on the original gifts of the Creator-the gifts we call the Seven Grandfather Teachings: respect, honesty, bravery, humility, wisdom, love, and truth.

I believe that our success as individuals and communities depends on honouring those traditional teachings as the source of our actions to benefit those who will come seven generations after us.

So it was with great shock that I read an article on the front page of the September 12, 2007 issue of the Manitoulin Expositor newspaper ("The artist as social critic-Blake Debassige speaks out about fairness to artists, political honesty and more")-quoting M'Chigeeng citizen Blake Debassige accusing me of theft and corrupt practices while serving as elected chief of my community.

As a widely respected Anishinaabe artist, Blake has a platform to help other peoples gain better understanding of First Nations history, culture and contemporary issues. Unfortunately, he has periodically chosen to use his gift to express his personal anger-and in this case to spread untrue and damaging falsehoods-about the efforts made by First Nation leaders on behalf of their communities.

In publishing Blake's latest outburst, the Manitoulin Expositor has helped cast aspersions not just against me personally, but against organizations such as the Union of Ontario Indians-which represents 42 member communities of the Anishinabek Nation-and even the national umbrella organization, the Assembly of First Nations.

It is almost inconceivable that a respectable media organization would publish such callous, damaging and unsubstantiated allegations against individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nation citizens, and to providing them with the same socio-economic standards as those enjoyed by most Canadians.

Many of us spend countless hours advocating, negotiating, and consulting so that our people will have better health care, schools, and social conditions than we have had in the past.

In the publication of this message, I want to offer Blake Debassige and the Manitoulin Expositor an opportunity to issue a prompt public retraction of the slanderous remarks published in the September 12 issue, and a full and sincere apology for the damage they have caused me and my political colleagues.

The Union of Ontario Indians will institute legal proceedings regarding this matter in the spirit of accountability.

Glen Hare

Deputy Grand Chief

Anishinabek Nation

EDITOR'S NOTE: The article cited above was a report of statements made by Mr. Debassige at a public meeting. The newspaper would like to clarify that it did not intend to suggest that Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare was involved in criminal or corrupt practices. The newspaper apologizes to Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare if there was any misunderstanding.

Reader requests action from local MPP

What happened to meeting with ministers?

To the Expositor:

The following is an open letter to Mike Brown.

Dear Mr. Brown:

In the afternoon of Wednesday, September 28, 2005, I met with you at the Central Manitoulin township office in Mindemoya. At that time I requested your help in obtaining a joint meeting with the Ministers of the Environment, Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines. You stated that you expected such a meeting "would be quite easy to arrange."

Sir, it is now nearly two years since you made that commitment, and after considerable correspondence with your office, I do not appear to be any closer to obtaining a meeting with those three ministers.

Mr. Brown, this is most disappointing.

Mike Wilton

Dominion Bay

Access to Crown land is critical to northerners, outdoor enthusiasts

Voters need to consider candidates' views in upcoming election

To the Expositor:

During the 2003 provincial election, Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal Party spent considerable time courting voters in Northern Ontario, and claimed that their government would return pride of place to residents living north of the French River.

Apparently, that was then, this is now.

Over the last four years, residents of Northern Ontario and visitors to the region have been faced with increasing restrictions on access to public lands and waters, despite the government's "investment" of millions of taxpayers' dollars on forest access roads on Crown land. For the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), its 82,000 members and 655 member clubs, the broader outdoor community, and residents in communities such as Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Dryden, Thunder Bay, Wawa, Hearst, North Bay and Manitoulin Island, access to our resources is critical. In fact, aside from the issue of funding for the MNR, perhaps no other single issue is more important to the outdoors community and residents of Northern Ontario than access to these resources.

Crown land is public land. As such, the taxpayers of this province are entitled to access public waters and lands that surround them. However, according to MNR's own figures, between 1996 and 2003, we lost almost 4,000 kilometres of accessible forest access roads. Public consultations with people in Northern Ontario have amounted to nothing more than public relations "feel-good" exercises, which are supposed to demonstrate that the government is listening. When it comes to access in the North, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Last year, the premier announced that the province would spend $75 million in total on the construction of forest access roads on Crown land-roads that, in the words of the premier, would serve the needs of "the public at large." What we have seen instead are gates locked and access denied.

Ontarians go to the polls on October 10. Before casting your vote, make sure you ask all candidates where they stand on the issue of access, and what their party intends to do to ensure that the residents of Northern Ontario, and future generations, will be able to access our valuable natural resources which are currently being restricted as a result of poor land use planning and deals made with tourist operators.

William J. Strain, president,

Little Current and District Fish and Game Club

Sheguiandah

I'm your neighbour

Pearl Debassige

UCCM Castle Building Centre,

M'Chigeeng

Stopping by the UCCM Castle Building Centre in M'Chigeeng on a Thursday afternoon, customers are greeted by the smiling, friendly face of Pearl Debassige, quietly waiting behind the main counter to serve customers. But while all may seem calm now, Ms. Debassige insists it's been a hectic day.

"Everyone went for lunch, and I looked up, and there were 10 people standing there," she laughs. "It's been a busy day."

But the long-time employee takes it all in stride, and that good nature is something customers have come to expect when shopping at the building centre. She began her employment there more than three decades ago when the centre opened in the early 1970s, but left the Island to pursue her education in accounting.

When her boss contacted her to return to her old job, Ms. Debassige hadn't been considering a return to the Island, but the pull proved too strong, and she's now been back for five years.

When asked what her job entails, Ms. Debassige replies with a chuckle, "everything!" One moment she may be checking customers out at the cash, and the next she'll be mixing paint, stocking shelves or placing orders. She speaks fluent Ojibwe, which helps in serving community members.

The biggest appeal of the job is "the customers," Ms. Debassige says. "Especially in the summertime, because you get to meet all the people who come in to shop. We also have our regular customers, like the construction workers, who come in all the time."

When she's not working, Ms. Debassige likes to take advantage of her natural surroundings, and is an avid hiker and camper, but confesses a passion for bingo, too. And she supports local events like the community powwow, to which she donates regularly.

As Ms. Debassige heads back to work, a fellow employee greets her with "Hi neighbour," and she laughs in response. "It's always like that around here," she smiles. "The staff is very funny, and we're always joking around.

Patronizing local businesses like UCCM Castle Building Centre provides lasting employment for people like Pearl Debassige.